Young Adults and Allergic Rhinitis: A Population Often Overlooked but in Need of Targeted Help.

Jones, G.; House, R.; Bosnic-Anticevich, S.; Cheong, L.; Cvetkovski, B.  Allergies 2024, 4, 145-161. https://doi.org/10.3390/allergies4040011

Abstract

The comparison of medications used by participants
versus medications recommended by guidelines appropriate
for the participants’ AR status (n = 167).

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) currently affects 27% of young adults (18–24 years old) in Australia. Although the nature of AR and its management are well-researched in adult and paediatric populations, little is known about young adults. Given the biopsychosocial developmental challenges faced by young adults, this study aims to investigate young adults’ AR management and the source of its influence. A total of 185 young adults with AR in Australia completed an online survey. Seventy-eight percent were female and had a mean age of 21.9 years old.

Allergen Immunotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Asthma

Batard, T., Taillé, C., Guilleminault, L., Bozek, A., Floch, V.-L., Pfaar, O., Canonica, W., Akdis, C., Shamji, M. and Mascarell, L. (2024) Clin Exp Allergy. https://doi.org/10.1111/cea.14575

ABSTRACT

Graphical Abstract

Allergic asthma is the predominant phenotype among asthmatics. Although conventional pharmacotherapy is a central component in the management of asthma, it does not enable control of asthma symptoms in all patients. In recent decades, some uncontrolled asthmatic patients, especially those with allergic asthma, have benefited from biological therapies. However, biologics do not address all the unmet needs left by conventional pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that neither conventional pharmacotherapy nor biological therapies have disease-modifying properties. In this context, allergen immunotherapy (AIT) represents an indispensable component of the therapeutic arsenal against allergic asthma, due to its disease-modifying immunological effects.

Alleviation of Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis Symptoms in Participants Treated with a 0.005% Tacrolimus Eye-Drop Solution

Sladek S, Unger-Manhart N, Siegl C et al. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:2797-2811 https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S476163

Abstract:

Purpose: This randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover, double‐blind trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tacrosolv, a novel 0.005% tacrolimus eye-drop solution, in adults with grass pollen–induced allergic conjunctivitis.

Methods: A total of 64 adult participants were randomized to receive 2.5 μg or 5 μg tacrolimus/eye/day or placebo treatment for 8 days, with grass pollen exposure on day 1 and day 8. After a 2-week washout period, placebo participants crossed over to Tacrosolv treatment and vice versa, with repeated treatment and exposure. During exposure, participants recorded ocular, nasal, and respiratory allergy symptoms every 15 minutes. The primary endpoint was the mean total ocular symptom score (TOSS) on day 8. Objective ocular safety parameters were assessed before, during, and after exposure. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study.

Diagnostic Decision Point for IgE-Mediated Wheat Allergy in Children

Hwang Y, Kim J, Ahn K,et al. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2024 Sep;16(5):555-561. https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2024.16.5.555

Abstract

Comparison of wheat and ω-5 gliadin sIgE
levels between the WA and NWA groups. 

The diagnostic decision point can help diagnose food allergies while reducing the need for oral food challenge (OFC) tests. We performed a multicenter survey of children aged 0–7 years from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2022. A total of 231 children were recruited from 18 institutions. Wheat allergy (WA) or non-wheat allergy (NWA) was determined on the basis of OFC results and symptoms.

Emerging Biologic Therapies for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Alvarenga, J.M., Bieber, T. & Torres, T. Drugs (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-024-02095-4
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease having a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Conventional treatments, including topical therapies and systemic immunosuppressants, often have limited efficacy and long-term safety concerns. Emerging biologic therapies target specific immune pathways implicated in AD pathogenesis, offering new therapeutic options in a disease known for its complex immune pathomechanisms. This review focuses on novel biologics under investigation, particularly those targeting specific immune pathways such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-13, IL-22, IL-31, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and OX40-OX40L axis.

How type-2 dendritic cells induce Th2 differentiation: Instruction, repression, or fostering T cell-T cell communication?

Ronchese F, Webb GR, Ochiai S, Lamiable O, Brewerton M. Allergy. 2024; 00: 1-13. doi:10.1111/all.16337 

Abstract

Allergic disease is caused by the activation of allergen-specific CD4+ type-2 T follicular helper cells (Tfh2) and T helper 2 (Th2) effector cells that secrete the cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13 upon allergen encounter, thereby inducing IgE production by B cells and tissue inflammation. While it is accepted that the priming and differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into Th2 requires allergen presentation by type 2 dendritic cells (DC2s), the underlying signals remain unidentified.

Allergen sensing by dendritic cells (DCs).

In this review we focus on the interaction between allergen-presenting DC2s and naïve CD4+ T cells in lymph node (LN), and the potential mechanisms by which DC2s might instruct Th2 differentiation.

Oral Bacterial Lysate OM-85: Advances in Pharmacology and Therapeutics

 Zhu LL, Wang YH, Feng JH, Zhou Q.  Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024;18:4387-4399 https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S484897

Background: Bacterial lysates are known for having immunomodulatory properties and have been used mainly for the prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). However, rigorous studies are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy of bacterial lysates with various bacterial antigen components, preparation methods, administration routes and course of treatment. OM-85, an oral standardized lysate prepared by alkaline lysis of 21 strains from 8 species of common respiratory tract pathogens, is indicated as immunotherapy for prevention of recurrent RTIs and acute infectious exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. OM-85 acts on multiple innate and adaptive immune targets and can restore type 1 helper T (Th1)/Th2 balance. Sporadic studies have shown advances in pharmacology and therapeutics of OM-85, and thus an update review is necessary.

Methods: Literature was retrieved by searching PubMed, Web of science, Embase, CNKI, and Full Text Database of Chinese Medical Journals.

Efficacy and Safety of Mometasone Furoate Nasal Spray in Treating Nasal Polyposis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mohya O H, Alghamdi A A, Alomar A A, et al. Cureus 16(9): e70498. doi:10.7759/cureus.70498

Abstract

Forest Plot of the Risk Ratio for Subjects With an
ImprovementWith MFNS Once Daily Compared to Placebo

Topical and systemic corticosteroids are the most effective medical treatment for nasal polyps, this study aims to systematically explore the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate (MTF) for patients with nasal polyps (NP). The systematic review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered in The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO.) Data were extracted from relevant and appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of synthetic corticosteroids for patients with nasal polyps from PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Science Direct, encompassing studies published between January 1995 and July 2024.